China-Malaysia friendship lasts forever

Forty years ago my father, Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. At the time, Malaysia was a relatively new country, having achieved independence less than twenty years before. The establishment of diplomatic relations was a momentous event – indeed, Malaysia was the first South East Asian country to recognise the People's Republic of China.

Four decades later and much has changed. Malaysia has been transformed from a predominantly agrarian nation to a modern, industrialised country, well on its way to developed-nation status. China, too, has changed beyond recognition, and is now the world's second largest economy. It has re-emerged as a Great Power in a new multipolar world order. While our countries, and the world, have changed considerably, one thing has remained constant: the strong bond of friendship between our two peoples.

This friendship has created a huge economic success. Today, China is Malaysia's top trading partner. Last year, our bilateral trade was US$106 billion. Malaysia and China are also investing in each other's countries like never before. Chinese Foreign Direct investment in Malaysia reached US$ 920 million in 2013. The two joint Malaysian-Chinese industrial parks - the Qinzhou Industrial Park in Guangxi and the Kuantan Industrial Park - have also received huge investments, creating new jobs and opportunities for our citizens.

Our people-to-people exchanges are also stronger than ever and Malaysia's Chinese community ensures that we will always have a special link with China. There is perhaps no better symbol of our friendship than the arrival from China of two giant pandas, who now happily reside in Zoo Negara – and who have become an instant hit with the Malaysian public.

Of course, as in any friendship, sometimes unexpected challenges occur. The disappearance of flight MH370 – with 154 Chinese nationals on board – is one such challenge. We expressed our heartfelt sympathy and deep condolences for the Chinese people who had relatives on board at the earliest opportunity. The tragedy has been exceptionally difficult for Malaysia. Faced with an unprecedented mystery, we have had to put together the largest peacetime search operation in human history. But even in such challenging circumstances, our friendship has won through.